ARC Review: Kiss Me in Paris by Catherine Rider

Review by: Paige

Rating: ★ ★

Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis: Serena has just flown all the way to Paris for a special pre-Christmas weekend with her sister, Lara. They plan to retrace the steps of their parents’ long-ago honeymoon in Paris, and create a scrapbook for their bereaved mother to remember it by. 

It’s supposed to be serious sister bonding…until Lara takes off with her boyfriend instead.

Jean-Luc is Serena’s Plan B, a friend of a friend of Lara’s, who has some space in a place where Serena can stay. Just like his latest relationship, his photography final has been an epic fail. He has one night to retake all his pictures if he is to stay in school. 

Jean-Luc can’t stand Serena’s loud voice or her bright orange sneakers.

Serena can’t stand his haughty manners or the way his camera is always in her face.

Together, though, they set out into a cold night that will warm their hearts, creating unforgettable photos and fresh romantic sparks in the City of Lights.

Advertisements

ARC Review: Sadie by Courtney Summers

Review by: Paige

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Genre: Young Adult, Mystery, Thriller, Contemporary

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis: A missing girl on a journey of revenge and a Serial-like podcast following the clues she’s left behind. 

Sadie hasn’t had an easy life. Growing up on her own, she’s been raising her sister Mattie in an isolated small town, trying her best to provide a normal life and keep their heads above water. 

But when Mattie is found dead, Sadie’s entire world crumbles. After a somewhat botched police investigation, Sadie is determined to bring her sister’s killer to justice and hits the road following a few meager clues to find him.

When West McCray—a radio personality working on a segment about small, forgotten towns in America—overhears Sadie’s story at a local gas station, he becomes obsessed with finding the missing girl. He starts his own podcast as he tracks Sadie’s journey, trying to figure out what happened, hoping to find her before it’s too late.

Review: Meet Cute by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Editor)

Review by: Paige

Rating: ★ ★ ★

Genre: Young Adult, Short Stories, Romance, Contemporary

Synopsis: Whether or not you believe in fate, or luck, or love at first sight, every romance has to start somewhere. MEET CUTE is an anthology of original short stories featuring tales of “how they first met” from some of today’s most popular YA authors. 

Readers will experience Nina LaCour’s beautifully written piece about two Bay Area girls meeting via a cranky customer service Tweet, Sara Shepard’s glossy tale about a magazine intern and a young rock star, Nicola Yoon’s imaginative take on break-ups and make-ups, Katie Cotugno’s story of two teens hiding out from the police at a house party, and Huntley Fitzpatrick’s charming love story that begins over iced teas at a diner. There’s futuristic flirting from Kass Morgan and Katharine McGee, a riveting transgender heroine from Meredith Russo, a subway missed connection moment from Jocelyn Davies, and a girl determined to get out of her small town from Ibi Zoboi. Jennifer Armentrout writes a sweet story about finding love from a missing library book, Emery Lord has a heartwarming and funny tale of two girls stuck in an airport, Dhonielle Clayton takes a thoughtful, speculate approach to pre-destined love, and Julie Murphy dreams up a fun twist on reality dating show contestants. 

This incredibly talented group of authors brings us a collection of stories that are at turns romantic and witty, epic and everyday, heartbreaking and real.

Review: Before the Devil Breaks You (Diviners #3) by Libba Bray

Review by: Paige

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Historical Fiction

Synopsis: New York City.
1927.
Lights are bright.
Jazz is king.
Parties are wild.
And the dead are coming…

After battling a supernatural sleeping sickness that early claimed two of their own, the Diviners have had enough of lies. They’re more determined than ever to uncover the mystery behind their extraordinary powers, even as they face off against an all-new terror. Out on Ward’s Island, far from the city’s bustle, sits a mental hospital haunted by the lost souls of people long forgotten–ghosts who have unusual and dangerous ties to the man in the stovepipe hat, also known as the King of Crows.

With terrible accounts of murder and possession flooding in from all over, and New York City on the verge of panic, the Diviners must band together and brave the sinister ghosts invading the asylum, a fight that will bring them fact-to-face with the King of Crows. But as the explosive secrets of the past come to light, loyalties and friendships will be tested, love will hang in the balance, and the Diviners will question all that they’ve ever known. All the while, malevolent forces gather from every corner in a battle for the very soul of a nation–a fight that could claim the Diviners themselves.

Review: The Merciless IV: Last Rites by Danielle Vega

Review by: Paige

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Genre: Young Adult, Horror

Synopsis: The ropes tighten on Berkley Hubbard’s wrists. Blood drips down her fingers and lands with a smack on the cold floor of the church basement. She’s trapped, bound, and petrified by fear. A knife punctures her fragile skin as Berkley’s captors search for the mark of the devil on her body. They say they want to save her–drive the devil away and cleanse her soul–but will she make it out alive?

When Berkley arrived in Italy a week ago, the last thing she expected was that she’d end up fighting for her life. After spending six months at the Institute, confined to a room with the dangerous-yet-alluring Sofia Flores, Berkley was certain that a vacation in Italy with her two best friends would be the perfect getaway. But Berkley is hiding a terrible secret, one that threatens to undo everything. As she’s forced to face her wicked past, she learns that the devil is always watching, and no one is coming to save her.

Review: Wintersong (Wintersong #1) by S. Jae-Jones

Review by: Paige

Rating: ★ ★ ★ (3.5)

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance

Synopsis: All her life, Liesl has heard tales of the beautiful, dangerous Goblin King. They’ve enraptured her mind and spirit and inspired her musical compositions. Now eighteen and helping to run her family’s inn, Liesel can’t help but feel that her musical dreams and childhood fantasies are slipping away.

But when her own sister is taken by the Goblin King, Liesl has no choice but to journey to the Underground to save her. Drawn to the strange, captivating world she finds–and the mysterious man who rules it–she soon faces an impossible decision. With time and the old laws working against her, Liesl must discover who she truly is before her fate is sealed.

Book Tag Sunday: 20 Questions Book Tag

We most recently saw this tag from Kay @ Hammock of Books and knew we had to get on it! It’s always fun to get a little insight into someone’s reading habits and opinions, so let’s just jump right in!

Review: Truly Devious (Truly Devious #1) by Maureen Johnson

Review by: Paige

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Mystery, Thriller, Crime

Synopsis: Ellingham Academy is a famous private school in Vermont for the brightest thinkers, inventors, and artists. It was founded by Albert Ellingham, an early twentieth century tycoon, who wanted to make a wonderful place full of riddles, twisting pathways, and gardens. “A place” he said, “where learning is a game.”

Shortly after the school opened, his wife and daughter were kidnapped. The only real clue was a mocking riddle listing methods of murder, signed with the frightening pseudonym, Truly Devious. It became one of the great unsolved crimes of American history.

True-crime aficionado Stevie Bell is set to begin her first year at Ellingham Academy, and she has an ambitious plan: She will solve this cold case. That is, she will solve the case when she gets a grip on her demanding new school life and her housemates: the inventor, the novelist, the actor, the artist, and the jokester. But something strange is happening. Truly Devious makes a surprise return, and death revisits Ellingham Academy. The past has crawled out of its grave. Someone has gotten away with murder.

Review: Not If I Save You First by Ally Carter

Review by: Paige

Rating: ★ ★ ★

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Adventure, Romance

Synopsis: Maddie thought she and Logan would be friends forever. But when your dad is a Secret Service agent and your best friend is the president’s son, sometimes life has other plans. Before she knows it, Maddie’s dad is dragging her to a cabin in the middle of the Alaskan wilderness.

No phone.
No Internet.
And not a single word from Logan.

Maddie tells herself it’s okay. After all, she’s the most popular girl for twenty miles in any direction. (She’s also the only girl for twenty miles in any direction.) She has wood to cut and weapons to bedazzle. Her life is full.
Until Logan shows up six years later . . .
And Maddie wants to kill him.

But before that can happen, an assailant appears out of nowhere, knocking Maddie off a cliff and dragging Logan to some unknown fate. Maddie knows she could turn back- and get help. But the weather is turning and the terrain will only get more treacherous, the animals more deadly.

Maddie still really wants to kill Logan.
But she has to save him first.

Book Tag Sunday: The Cake Book Tag

It’s Sunday, so it’s time to bring back Book Tag Sunday! These are always so fun to do, and as Meg and I are huge fans of baked goods, we thought this would be the perfect delicious treat to kick off a return to doing tags. We first saw this from Sofii @ A Book. A Thought., but it’s been floating around for a while now! Enjoy!

---

Chocolate Cake: A Dark Book You Absolutely Love

It doesn’t get much darker than horror, right? This series is as dark and twisted as it appears to be, and could not be a more rich read. Fast-paced and intense, it’s the kind of book that will honestly keep you reading until far past your bed time, completely unable to put it down. But take it from us, reading too far into the night could give you legitimate nightmares.

Vanilla Cake: A Light Read

We are enormous fans of this series, and honestly could not love it any more. It’s an enjoyable and light read, filled with witty banter and a fantastic enemies-to-lovers romance while still having an engaging plot and heartwarming characters. If you’re looking for something fun and flirty that will still tug at your heart, look no further.